Numerical Simulation of the Blue Whirl
Abstract
Suppose there could be a "perfect" combustion system, one that is safe, provides energy reliably and efficiently, and also removes fuel spills and clears agricultural fields, all with no harm to us personally or the natural environment. Every step that we can make towards achieving such a system, each small increase in efficiency or reduction in pollution, is an important one. The blue whirl is a flame structure that has the possibility of becoming an important step towards a perfect system. A blue flame evolved naturally from a small fire whirl burning liquid heptane and produced in the laboratory. Once formed this flame remains in the steady, stable, completely blue state, forming no soot at all, until all of the fuel was consumed. The objective of this proposal is to create a numerical model that is capable of simulating the observed liquid-fueled fire whirl and its evolution to a blue whirl on a smooth surface. Such a tool will subsequently be used in close conjunction and interactively with ongoing experiments at the University of Maryland, in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Gollner, and at ARL Adelphi, in the laboratory of Dr. Ivan Lee, to interpret and guide the experiments. The proposed work for the STIR will proceed systematically with simultaneous development of submodels for the controlling chemical and physical processes, based on known or estimated input data for vaporization, diffusion, chemical reactions, and soot formation. These submodels are connected to a solution of the fluid equations, which can then be used to simulate the evolution of a heptane pool fire, to a fire whirl, and finally to a blue whirl. The proposed work is directly relevant lo the research area (identified in the BAA) of Fluid Dynamics, which is within Mechanical Sciences, within the Engineering Sciences area. The relevant subarea within Fluid Dynamics is Nonlinear Flow Interactions and Turbulence, At the end of the 9-month period, we propose to have a simulation tool, which has been constructed in coordination with experimental diagnostics developed at UMD and ARL Adelphi, and which can be used to answer a number of the driving questions about the blue whirl.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710524
Entities
People
- Elaine Oran
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Maryland